Winding machine



Sept. 29, 1942. E. R. sWANsoN 2,295,959

WINDING MACHINE l Filed Jan. lo, 1941 2 sheets-sheet 1 Sept 29, 1942- E.R. swANsoN WINDNG MACHINE "2 sheets-sheet 2 Filed Jan. 1o, 194;

Aindented sept. 29, 1942 UNITED STATESl PATENT OFFICEl WINDING MACHINE yErnest B. Swanson. Cranston, B. I., assignor to Universal WindingCompany, Boston, Mass., a corporation of Massachusetts ApplicationJanuary 10, 1941, Serial No. l374,002

14 calme. (ci. zie-45) Y homer carried by the spindle; 1t is wen knownThis invention relates to improvements in winding machines fori windingcops, cones and other packages of yarn, tread and like strand materials.Y

By the term .yarn as used in the following specication and claims ismeant any type of strand material and the term package is herein used toindicate any wound mass whatever its shape or form.

One object of the invention is to provide a winding machine of the typeindicated capable of producing packages having the yarn built up withuniform density throughout the wound mass whereby to improve the form ofthe package and facilitate free delivery of the yarn therefrom duringsubsequent processing operations.

Another object of the invention is to provide a machine of the typeindicated in which the winding spindle is rotated at a gradually reducedrate of speed to maintain the linear speed of the yarn substantiallyconstant throughout the winding of the package. i

Another object of the invention is to provide a machine of the typeindicated in which the tension on the strand is maintained constant andV'the emulsifying of the yarn rendered uniform throughout the windingoperation.

Another object of the invention is to providev Y function.

in the art that when yarn is wound on a niachine of this type the linearspeed or draft of the strand delivering to the spindle is graduallyincreased due to the constantly increasing, di-

ameter of the package being wound. Due to this increase in the linearspeed of the'strand it is caused to balloon to an increasing extent asit is unwound from the supply bobbin, causing an increase in the tensionon the yarn from start to finish of the package. Moreover, as thepackage increases in size more resistance is offered to une passage ofthe yarn through the tensiondevice and as a result the yarn may besubjected to excessive tension and the yarn mass caused i tobe woundwith greater density toward the vperiphery of the wound package. withpackages causing hard spots and unevenness which hinder the freedelivery of the yarn in unwinding it during subsequent processingoperations. In addition to the above faults it has been found that whendelicate yarn is wound under progressively augmented tension it is aptto be strained and broken and thus rendered unfit for use. In windingmachines of this type the yarn is sometimes passed across a wetted rollwhich acts -to moisten or emulsify it and as its linear speed Furtherobiects of the improvements are set forth in the following specicationwhich describes a preferred embodiment of theinvention, by way ofexample, as illustrated by the accompanying drawings. In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a front elevational view of the present improved windingmachine showing the electric motor for driving the winding spindle andthe means for controlling the speed of the motor; I i

lilg.v 2 is a side elevation of the same: and

Fig. ,.3 is a diagrammatic view showing the electrical circuit for thedriving motor.

In a common type of winding machine embodying a rotary spindle it is theusual practice to' rotate the spindle at a constant rate of speed andincreases the yarn is gradually subjected to less wetting or emulsifyingby the roll.

To overcome the deciencies mentioned above various means have beenemployed for gradually relieving or reducing the applied tension on the`yarn as its linear speed increases whereby to maintain the tension atthe package substantially constant during the entire winding operation,Various devices have also been provided for .causing' the yarn togradually contact the emulsion roll to a greater extent as the packagebuilds up and the linear speed of the yarnv increases whereby to' moreuniformly wet or emulsify the yarn. These compensating means, besidesbeing somewhat complicated, require considerable attention on .thepartof the operator and are not entirely eilicient in accomplishing thedesired result. A

It is the purpose of the present invention to provide a winding machinecapable of maintaining-the linear speed or draft of the yarn constantthroughout the entire winding operation so that the use of suchcompensating devices is to deposit the thread or yarn on a tube or otherreducing the rotative speed of the winding spindie in accordance withthe progressive increase in diameter of thepackage being wound. iReferring to the drawings, a well-known type er winding mneiiine isherein illustrated es eemguide 5 mounted on a reciprocating traverse-bar6 ladapted to slide in a guideway 1 on a swinging traverse-frame III.The traverse-frame I8 is of usual bifurcated construction having legs IIpivoted on the cam-shaft 4 to adapt the threadguide 5 to move outwardlyaway from the winding-spindle as the cop or package l'is built upthereon.

The thread-guide 5 is reciprocated from a helical cam I2 mounted on' androtated by the cam-shaft 4, thetraverse-bar 8 being connected to acrosshead I3 slidable in guide-ways in the traverse-frame III andcarrying a roller or bowl I4 engaging a helical groove in thetraversecam. As thecam I2 Vrotates the traverse-bar 5 and thread-guide5` mounted thereon are reciprocated to traverse the yarn y back andforth on the cop-tube C in the manner indicated in Fig. 2. Thetraverse-frame III is provided with a dependingl arm I1 terminating in acounter- Weight I8 which tends to resist the swinging movement of theframe as the thread-guide 5 yis forced outwardly away from thewinding-spindle 3 during the growth in diameter of the package.

The winding-spindle 3 projects rearwardly beyond the frame 2 and carriesa pulley 28 loosely clockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 1, by means ofa. spring, not herein shown, engages with a brake-disk 28 on the spindle3 to arrest the rotation of the spindle. To start the rotation of thespindle 3 'the handle 25 and the rod 24 are rocked in Vclockwisedirection, as 'viewed in Fig.r 1, to free the brake-shoe 21 from thedisk 28 and cause the lever 2| to slide the pulley 20 to Vclutch it tothe spindle. The rod 24 is releasably held in operative position bymeans of a lock or detent indicated at 30 in Fig. 1, such locking meansbeing common to machines of the present type and therefore not hereindescribed in detail.

The cam-shaft 4 is driven from the windingspindle 3 at a reduced rate ofspeed through A suitable gearing enclosed within a casing -or housing33. As"herein shown, the spindle 3 carries a vpinion 34 which drives aspur 4gear 35 on the cam-shaft 4 through intermediate gears 36, 31 and38, see Fig. 2.

In the present improved winding machine means are provided for graduallydecreasing the italiaansev rotative speed of the winding package duringthe .entire winding operation whereby to maintain the linear speed ofthe feeding yarn oonstant. Through this method of winding the tensionand the amount of emulsifying agent applied to the strand are maintainedsubstantially uniform throughout the winding operation. 'I'he tensionand emulsifying device are not herein shown or described since they maybe of 4any suitable construction. The means for driving the spindle at aprogressively reduced rate of speedis constructed and arranged as nextdescribed.

Mounted on a plate 4I carried by the bed l of the machine is an electricmotor 48 having a pulley 42 at one end of its armature shaft 33connected to drive the spindle-pulley 20 through the means of a belt 43.The electric motor 4l may be of the same type as that shown anddescribed in;- United States Letters Patent to Royal Lee, No. 1,767,146,dated June 24, 1930, and is therefore not herein shown or described indetail. A rotary breaker-disk 45, see Fig. 2,

within the motor housingcarries a pair of opposed contacts 48 and` 41.The contact 46 is carried on the rotating disk 45 and is adapted to moveradially outward to a limited extent with respect to the axis of themotor under the action of centrifugal force. When the motor is energizedand the armature attains a predetermined maximum rate of speed thecontact- 45 moves outwardly away from the contact 41 under the influenceof centrifugal force andnsince the contacts are connected in theelectrical circuit to the field coils of the motor, see Fig. 3, the-circuit is opened and the speed of the motor-armature is retarded. Asthe speed of the armature is reduced the centrifugal force becomes lessand the Icontact 46 is caused to move into engagement with the contact41 under the tension of a leaf-spring, \not herein shown, to close theelectrical circuit through the motor windings. ture thus causes theelectrical circuit to be opened and closed intermittently at a. rapidrate, the contacts 46 and 41 sometimes making and breaking as many asfive hundred times per second. Were the contact 41 fixed on the disk 45the speed of rotation of the armature would be maintained constant andthe winding-spindle 3 rotated at a uniform speed., To progressively'reduce the speed of the motor shaft and winding-spindle 3 to maintainthe linear speed of the yarn uniform, Ythe present invention contem-4plates the provision of means for shifting the contact 41 radially'inward toward the axis of the motor 40 during the winding of a packageon the spindle. Due to this progressive displacement of the contact 41thevgap betweenh the contacts is gradually extended and thus they willremain open-for increasing periods of time so that the speed of themotor will be according reduced. As in the United States patenty re'ferred to above, the contact 41 is mounted at the end of a'spring-arm 48fastened to the rotating disk 45 with its free end connected to an armor-lever 49 by means of a wire link 58. The lever` 49 is pivoted on apin at the end of an arm 5I projecting laterally from the breakerdisk 45and its lower end is provided with a convex button 55 positionedin axialalinement with the armature-shaft 39 of the motor.,

Mounted for axial sliding movement in a bearing sleeve 56 screwed intothe end of the casing 44 ofthe motor 48 isa plunger-rod 5 1. The innerRotation of the motor-armaend oi' the plunger 61 is adapted to contactwith the button 66 on the lever 49 to cause it to dis-` place the leverin the manner as explained later. Pocketed within an enlarged bore 69 inthe sleeve 66 and surrounding the plunger 61 is a helical spring 60which engages a shoulder 6| on the plunger 61 to. normally urge thelatter outwardly or to the left as viewed in Fig. 2. The outer end ofthe plunger 61 has a knurled head 6I and is formed with a threaded axialbore for receiving the threaded end of a cam-follower stud 66. At theouter end of the stud 60 is a cylindrical head having a, diametricalslot cut in its outer face. As shown in Fig. 2 the bottom of the slot isvf shaped in contour to provide a follower point 66 adapted to contactwith the curved edge of a cam-plate 1I to be later described. The fol'-lower 66 of the plunger 61 is held against the either conical orcylindrical cop-tubes of conventional dimensions the index or zero pointon y the cam-edge should aline with the follower conical or` cylindricalpackages.

edge of the cam 10 under the action of the spring 6l and the stud 66 maybe adjusted axially of the plunger 61 to provide for proper cooperationof the innerA end of the latter with the lever 40.

This adjustment is accomplished by turning the plunger-head 63 relativeto'the stud 66 and after the proper length of the` plunger 61 has Vbeenobtained a check-nut 64 on the stud is set up against the head to holdthe parts in adjusted relationship.

An arm 16 fastened to one leg of the traverse-frame l0 by means ofscrews 11 -extends laterally therefrom. Fixedly mounted at the end ofthe arm 16 is a U-shaped bracket 10 having threaded holes 10 in the endsof its upper and lower arms. The cam-plate 10, previously mentioned, isof arcuate contour in edge view, see Fig. l, its curvature beingconcentric with the axis of the cam-shaft 4- on which the traverseframe|0 pivots. The cam-plate 10 is fastened to the arms of the bracket 16 bymeans of screws 62 projecting through slots in the ends of thecam-platev and screwed into the holes 19 to provide for longitudinaladjustment of the cam. Referring to Fig. 2, the cam-plate 10 is formedwith a curved rearward edge 90 against which the follower 66 of theplunger 51 is yieldinglyy engaged. During 'the winding operation, as thepackage builds up on the spindle 3 the traverseframe I0 swings outwardlyto swing the camplate 10 downwardly. Engagement of the .camedge 90 withthe follower I6 of the plunger" will Vtherefore slide the latter axiallyinto the motor-casing 44 and through the lever 49 and link,50 thecontact-element 41 is caused to be moved inwardly in the manner 'beforeexplained to retard the speed of the motor and windingspindle. Thecam-edge 60 is so plotted that each increment of swinging movement ofthe traverseframe I0 causes the plunger 51 to be slid axially a distancesuillcient to displacethe contact 41 to the required extent to retardthe speed oi' the motor. In other words, the sliding movement of theplunger 51 is directly responsive and proportional to the growth indiameter of the package being wound.

Spaced along the cam edge 90 are graduations 6| which represent pointson the cam which or on cylindrical cop-tubes as sometimes em ployed. Atthe start of the winding, with the thread-guide 6 bearing against theperiphery of point 66. Toeffect this relationship between the cam-edge90 and the ffollower point 66, the screws l2 are loosened and thecam-plate 1l adjusted vertically of the bracket 10, after which thescrews' are tightened to secure the cam in its adjusted position. Sincethe mean outside diameter of a conical tube is substantially equal tothe outside diameter of a commonly used cylindrical tube, the samesetting of the cam-edge 00 will usually suillce for the winding ofeither When cores or tubes of larger diameter are employed the propergraduation or mark on the cam-plate 16 is positioned in alinement' withthe follower point 66 in a similar manner. The improved winding machinehaving been described in detail the method of operation thereof isexplained as follows:

Assuming that a conicalv package is to be wound, a conical cop-tube C isplaced on a copholder carried by the winding-spindle 3 in the positionshown in Fig. 2 of the drawings, the thread or yarn u is drawn upwardlyfrom the supply-bobbin and through a tension-device, not herein shown,and when the yarn is to be emulsied or sized; it is drawn across thewetted roll, not herein illustrated, and thence led over a bailwire 9 onthe traverse-frame I0. The yarn is passed through the eye of thethread-guide '5 and its end fastened. to the copftube C in the usual.vmanner. The traverse-frame I0 is then rocked' 'manually toward thespindle 3 to cause the thread-guide .to bear againstthe periphery V T heele'ctric driving motor 40 is-energized by closing a suitable switch|00, indicated in the diagram, Fig. 3, whichcauses the current to passthrough one iield coil |0| of the motor and the brushes. |02 and |03contacting. the rotor or armature |04. Current will then ilow throughthe contacts 41-and 46, which are now closed, and through the second eldcoil |05 tocomplete the circuit. It will be noted by reference to Fig. 3that a resistance winding |06 and a condenser |01 are shunted across thecontacts 41 and 40 and serve to prevent fusing of the contacts due tothe arcing which takes place between their faces luring the rapidopening and closing of the circuit in which they are incorporated.

With the motor 40 energizedits armature shaft 39 and pulley 42 arerotated at a speed which is controlled bythe position of the contact 41with respect to the contact 46. When the armature shaftv Il attains apredetermined speed the contact 46is moved away from the contact 41under the -action of centrifugal force and the circuit opened. The motorcircuit is immediately closed again by the return of the contact 46 asthe centrifugal force is lessened and this rapid opening and closing ofthe circuit is continually re- 4 peated to maintain a predeterminedspeed of the armature-shaft and the spindle-pulley 20 which is connectedfor rotation therewith by means of the belt 43. l

With the pulley 20 being driven, the winding operation is started byrocking'the handle 26 to `cause the operating lever 2| to clutch thepulley to the member I9 which is fast4 on the windingbe thereby reducedto that required at the start spindle 3. Asthespindlelisrotatedtheyarnis`deposited on the cop-mbe C and traversed longifollower to graduallyforce the plunger 51 into i the motor casing 4I. Through means of thelever ll and link Il the contact" is gradually displaced radiallyinwardly away from the contact 4l towiden the gapbetween the twocontacts andthusthespeedofthearmatureshaft and Vspindle l is accordinglyreduced. This reduction in the speed of the spindle 3 is continuous anduniform throughout the entire winding operation, being controlled solelyby the change in diameter of the package being wound. Since thespeed-controlling device is not dependent upon' the yardage of thread oryarn wound into the package, threads or yarns of any size may be woundwithout alteration in the construction or adjustment of the elements ofthe device.

When the package has been fully wound a suitable sizing device,indicated generally at Il' in Fig. l, acts tore'lease the locking meansIl to permit the rod 24 to be rocked. The rod `24 acting through thelever 22 will then shift the pulley 2li away from the clutch-member I9to release the pulley from driving engagement with the spindle l.Simultaneously with the declutching of the pulley 2| the brakeshoe 21engages the disk `Il to promptly arrest the rotation of the spindle 3.The wound package may then be doifed from the spindle 3 anda freshcop-tube applied thereto after which the traverse-frame Ill is returnedto initial position for winding another package. Return movement of thetraverse-frame Il toward .the winding spindles will cause the index orzero point of the cam-edge 8l to be again positioned opposite thefollower 66. The rotative speed of the armature shaft 39 and pulley 2!will of the next winding operation.

Reducing the speed of the winding package in direct proportion to itsgrowth in diameter has the eifect-to maintain the linear speed of theyarn constant throughout the winding operation. 'I'hrough this provisionthe yarn draws off from the supply bobbin, through the tension-deviceand across the emulsion element at a uniform rate of speed and thereforethe tension applied to the yarnremains constant, breakages in the yarnare eliminated and excessive ballooning'of the yarn at its source ofsupply is avoided. Uniform tensioning and emulsifying of` the yarn isthus accomplished without the use `of compensating devices as usuallyprovided in machines of the present type. f

It will be observed from the foregoing that the present inventionprovides a winding machine capable of producing yarn-packages ofimproved quality. By maintaining a uniform tension on the yarn strandthe package may be wound with uniform density throughout. `That is tosay, each layer of yarn will be wound with the same applied tension andItherefore' the package Ais rendered more stable and its desired contourdescribed as embodied in a preferred form of the spirit or scope of theinvention.

construction it will be understood that various modifications may bemade in the structure and arrangement of its parts without departingfrom Therefore, without limiting myself in this respect, I claim:

1. Vm s winding machine, a winding-slimme,

means for rotating the spindle to wind yarn thereon to form a package,means actuated intermittently .by the spindle-rotating means throughoutthe winding operation for controlling the speed of the spindle-rotatingmeans, and

means responsive to the growth in diameter of the package being woundfor varying the period of operation of the intermittently-operated means.to gradually reduce the rotative speed of the spindle whereby tomaintain the linear speed of the winding yarn substantially constant.

2. In a winding machine, a winding-spindle, an electric motor forrotating the spindle to wind yarn thereonv to form a package, anelectric circuit for the motor, speed-responsive means having relativelymovable contacts actuated by the motor in accordance with its speed forintermittently opening and closing the circuit to control the speedof.the motor, and means responsive to the growth in vdiameter of thepackage being wound for adjusting the speed-responsive means to shortenthe period during whichl the contacts are closed to gradually reduce thespeed of the motor.

3. In a winding machine, a winding-spindle. an electric motor forrotating the spindle to wind yarn thereon to form a package, and meansfor maintaining the linear speed of the winding yarn substantiallyconstant throughout the winding operation comprising an electric circuitfor the Y, motor, speed-responsive means having relatively movablecontacts actuated by the motor in accordance with its speed forintermittently opening and closing the circuit to control the speed ofthe motor, and means responsive to the increase in diameter of thepackage being-wmmd for adjusting the relative position of the contactsof said speed-responsive means to open the circuit for progressivelylonger intervals to progressively reduce the speed of the motor andspindle.

4. In a winding machine, a -winding-spindle, an electric motor forrotating the spindle to wind yarn thereomto form a package, an electriccircuit for said motor, a rotary circuit-breaker in the circuit, meansfor rotating the circuit-breaker in timed relation to the rotation ofthe spindle, said circuit-breaker being responsive to its rotative speedto intermittently open and close the circuit to normally maintain thespeed of the motor substantially constant, and means responsive to theincrease in diameter of .the package being wound for causing thecircuit-breaker to open the circuit for progressively longer intervalswhereby to progressively reduce the speed of the motor and spindle tomaintain the linear speed of the winding yarn substantially constantthroughout the winding of the package.

5. In a 4winding machine. a winding-spindle. an electric motor forrotating the spindle to wind yarn thereon to form a package. an electriccircuit for said motor, a rotary circuit-breaker in .the circuit, meansfor rotating the circuit-breaker in timed relation to the rotation orthe spindle, said circuit-breaker being operated by centrifugal force tointermittently open the circuit, means for operating the circuit-breakerin opposition to centrifugal force for closing the circuit to `normallymaintain the speed of the motor substantially constant, and vmeansresponsive to the increase in diameter of the package being .wound foradjusting the circuit-breaker to v,open the circuit for progressivelylonger intervals whereby to gradually reduce the speed of the motor tomaintain the linear speed of the winding yarn substantially constantthroughout the entire winding operation.

` 6. In a winding machine, a rotary windingspindle, an electric motorfor driving the spindle to wind a package thereon, an electric circuitfor the motor, a rotary member driven by said motor, a circuit-breakerin the circuit for the motor, said'circuit-breaker being carried by therotary member and adapted to be operated by centrifugal force to openthe circuit, means for operating the circuit-breaker to close thecircuit, means for controlling the time interval between the opening andclosing of the circuit, and-means responsive to the growth in diameterof the package wound on the spindle to operate said last-named means toprogressively reduce the speed of the motor throughout the winding ofthe package.

'7. In a winding machine, a rotary windingspindle, an electric motor fordriving said spindle to wind a package thereon, a rotary circuitbreaker,said circuit-breaker being responsive to its speed of rotation forcontrolling the speed of the electric motor, and a cam movable by and lwith the growth in diameter of the package to adjust the circuit-breakerto progressively reduce the speed of the motor throughout the winding ofa package.

8. In a winding machine, a rotary windingspindle, an electric motor fordriving said spindle to wind a package thereon, an electric circuit forsaid motor, a rotary circuit-breaker for controlling the speed of themotor, means for adjusting the circuit-breaker to vary the speed of themotor, and a cam movable by and with the growth in diameter of thepackage to adjustthe circuit-breaker to progressively reduce the speedof the motor throughout the winding of a package.

9. In a winding machine, a rotary windingspindle, an electric motor fordriving said spindle to wind a package thereon, a circuit-breaker havinga centrifugally operated contact for controlling the speed of the motor,said circuitbreaker being adjustable to vary the speed of the motor,means bearing against the winding package andmoved thereby duringthegrowth in the 11. In a winding machine, a rotary winding.

spindle, an electric motor for driving the windingspindle to wind apackage thereonmeans for controlling the speed of the motor, a membermovable to operate the speed-controlling means, a cam for moving saidlast-named' member, means responsive to the growth in diameter of thepackage for actuating the cam to cause it to operate thespeed-controlling means for the motor, and means for adjusting thev camin accordance with the setting of the winding machine for differenttypes of packages.

12. In a winding machine a rotary windingspindle, a traversingthread-guide for depositing yarn on the spindle to wind a package, anelectric motor for driving the winding-spindle and traversingthread-guide, a pivoted traverse-frame l for 'supporting thethread-guide to adapt it to bear against the package and to move awayfrom the winding-spindle with the growth indiameter of the winding, anarcuately-shaped-.cam plate carried by the traverse-frame in concentricrelation 'to its pivot and having a cam-face thereon, a memberengagingsaid cam-face of the camplate to be moved thereby during thepivotal movement of the traverse-frame, arid a rotary circuit-breakerhaving a centrifugaliy operated contact for controllingy the speed ofthe motor, said contact being adjustable by said movable member toprogressively reduce the speed of the motor during the winding of apackage. v

1'3. In a winding machine, a rotary` winding-- spindle, a thread-guidefor guiding yarn towind a package on the spindle, means for traversingsaid thread-guide, an electric motor for driving the winding-spindle andtraversing means, a pivoted traverse-frame carrying said threadguide, anarcuate cam-plate carried by said traverse-frame in concentric relationto its pivot,

said cam-plate having an inclined edge, a slidlil) able plunger engagingthe inclined edge of the cam-face, and speed-controlling means for the.

electric motor adapted to be actuated by the slidable plunger toprogressively reduce the speed of the motor throughout the winding of apackage.

14. In a winding machine, a rotary windingspindle, a thread-guide fortraversing yarn on said spindle to wind a package, means forreciprocating said thread-guide, an electric motor for driving thewinding-spindle and guide-reciprocating means, speed-controlling meansfor said motor, a pivoted traverse-frame for supporting the thread-guideto adapt it to move away from the winding-spindle during the growth inthe winding, an arm projecting from said traverse-frame, an arcuatecam-plate carried by said arm in concentric relation .to the pivot ofthe traverse-frame and adjustable longitudinally thereon, said cam-platehaving acam-face thereon, and a plunger engageable with the cam-face ofthe cam-plate for movement thereby and connected to operate thespeed-controlling means to progressively reduce the speed of the motorthroughout the winding of a package.

ERNEST R. SWANSON.

